OC dragons

Bearded Dragons, agamid lizards of the genus Pogona, are often kept as pets, most commonly Pogona vitticeps, the Inland or Central Bearded Dragon. Pogona describes seven species naturally found in arid, semi-arid woodlands and rocky deserts in central Australia.

They are a popular species among children, because of their friendly and calm nature, along with the relative ease of caring for them.[citation needed] Most bearded dragons kept as pets have broad triangular heads and flattened bodies, with adults reaching approximately 16 to 24 inches (410 to 610 mm) from head to tail and weighing 350 to 600 grams (10 to 20 oz).[2]

Overview
Bearded dragons originate and currently live in the deserts and woodland of Central Australia. They spend much of their time basking in the hot sun on rocks And low branches. When the weather is very hot and reaches near 110 degrees Fahrenheit (38-50°C), Beardies bury themselves underground to cool down. Being cold blooded, they frequently need to find a balance in temperatures to keep their temperature constant.

The origin of these dragons have exposed them to blinding heat full of UVA and UVB sunlight as well as cooler places to rest such as beneath rocks, under leaves or underground.

These dragons are both omnivores and diurnal. They forage for food like small lizards, insects, mammals, flowers, fruit and other plants in the daytime. Wild Bearded dragons are accustomed to catching wild, live insects and small mice.

Currently, bearded lizards are bred in captivity worldwide. This is because exporting them from Australia is illegal and, for some species, very limited. Bearded pets that are bred in captivity are just as healthy as wild bearded dragons.

Bearded dragon habitat
Bearded dragons need a large enough habitat to allow for a variety of distances from the heat source. A glass aquarium is recommended for security, ease of maintenance, and pet viewing. To avoid the expense of multiple habitats as your pet grows to adulthood, consider using a partition that can be easily adjusted. This way, throughout the life of the pet, you can use a single large aquarium, 55–70 gallons (208–264 litres).

White melamine is a material that keeps the cage very bright which is important for stimulating a dragon's appetite. The light (and the UVB) stays inside the cage rather than escaping through the glass sides of an aquarium. Glass fronts will allow the dragon to check out their world and interact with you.

Housing young bearded dragons
Babies and small juveniles can be temporally housed in a 10–20 gallon aquarium. Young bearded dragons less than 10 inches (25 cm) in length need to be housed in a 20 gal long aquarium. This will last them for a few months only though as they grow quickly. You can use Profile Extended Storage Bins. The milky white sides of the bins prevent the dragon from becoming terrified in new surroundings and not eating for the first few days, which can become a serious problem.

Housing adult bearded dragons
Adult dragons should be housed in a 90 x 45 x 60 cm exo-terra glass vivarium

Sexual dimorphism
Males have a distinct set of pre-anal pores between the back legs and have hemipenal bulges at the vent. Females usually have no bulge past the vent or only one. Contrary to some beliefs, they do have pores, however they are less noticeable than a male's. The pores are easy to see when looking at the dragon's underside. Males and females are of comparable size, although males usually sport a larger head, a thicker tail base and slimmer bodies than the females. There are cases where a female has a bigger head and tail than her male counterpart. Mature males will turn their throat pouches (beards) black during courtship to signal dominance,[3] although females have also been known to do the same.